Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bangladesh observing fast evolving situation in Afghanistan: MoFA
Bangladesh is carefully observing the fast evolving situation in Afghanistan, which Dhaka believes may have an impact on the region and beyond.
"We urge all stakeholders in Afghanistan to maintain peace and calm ensuring safety and security of all including foreign nationals," said the ministry of foreign affairs in a statement on Monday.
Bangladesh said it would be happy to continue to work with the people of Afghanistan and the international community for the socio-economic development of the country.
Bangladesh and Afghanistan share historical and cultural linkages. It is a fellow member of SAARC and an integral part of South Asia.
Bangladesh recalls the invaluable support extended by the government and the people of Afghanistan to Bangladesh during the War of Liberation.
"Bangladesh is committed to working with Afghanistan for fulfilling the visionary policy of the Hon’ble Prime Minister that the region must grow and prosper together for this development to be sustainable," the statement reads.
Bangladesh believes that a democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan as chosen by its people is the only guarantee of stability and development in the country.
In this regard, Bangladesh considers itself a potential development partner and a friend of Afghanistan.
"We stand ready to share our best practices with Afghanistan in a range of areas, such as basic education, community healthcare, sanitation, human resources development, agriculture, climate change adaptation, disaster management and ICT enabled public service delivery," said the ministry.
The statement said Bangladeshi NGOs have successfully been working in Afghanistan for the last 20 years.
"Bangladesh firmly believes that it is upon the people of Afghanistan to rebuild their country and decide the course of the future themselves," said the statement.
It said Bangladesh wishes to see Afghanistan as a peaceful, stable, prosperous, responsible and contributing member of the South Asian region and the global community.
PM sends mangoes to Indonesian president
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent 1,000kg of mangoes for Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Jakarta received 1,000kg of mangoes from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a gift for Indonesia.
Also read: Sheikh Hasina gifts 2,600kg mangoes to PM Modi, Mamata Banerjee
The embassy in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia handed over 1,000kg of Bangladeshi mangoes for the president at Merdeka Presidential Palace in Jakarta recently.
Presidential palace protocol of the president secretariat, personal officer staff of the president and protocol officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia received the gift.
Also read: 300 kgs of mangoes handed over to Tripura CM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier sent mangoes for South Asian leaders, including Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maldives' President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Dhaka conveys protests to UK over human rights report
Bangladesh has protested to the United Kingdom that it was "grossly misleading" to use the words "house arrest" in reference to the current situation of BNP leader Begum Khaleda Zia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday summoned British Acting High Commissioner in Dhaka Javed Patel to convey the government's views and disappointment with certain issues mentioned in the Bangladesh chapter of the Human Rights and Democracy Report 2020.
The report was released by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) last Thursday.
It was clarified to the AHC that on the application of Begum Zia's brother, the government had - as per the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 - suspended her prison sentence and 'released' her in March 2020 on condition that she would receive medical treatment at home and would not travel abroad.
The government pointed out that the suspension of her sentence and release from prison, applicable for an initial six -month period, were subsequently extended twice in September 2020 and March 2021.
Also read: Media freedom in Bangladesh under “pressure”, political freedom “restricted”: UK
The AHC was told that it would be advisable to consult the concerned authorities of the government in case of any confusion over such legal issues.
It was further suggested that any official document of the UK government also refrain from using any form of insinuating and misleading statements about the Government of Bangladesh or the ruling party, Bangladesh Awami League.
Protests in Swaziland: Dhaka in constant touch with Mission
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is in constant touch with the Bangladesh Mission in South Africa to help Bangladeshis in Swaziland who are worried over the current situation there, said a senior official on Friday.
"We’re in constant touch with our Mission," Mashfee Binte Shams, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told UNB.
She said the Bangladesh Mission in South Africa will facilitate if any Bangladesh national requires any support.
Also read: Section of global media, CSOs campaigning against Bhasan Char with distorted info: MoFA
One of the Bangladesh nationals in South Africa reached out to UNB saying Bangladesh nationals, around 1200 to 1300, in Swaziland are much worried over the current situation there.
He said their business establishments are mostly looted.
Pro-democracy protesters in Eswatini have defied an overnight curfew to call for constitutional reforms as tensions increase in Africa’s last absolute monarchy.
Demonstrations flared on Monday in the tiny and landlocked kingdom previously known as Swaziland, with protesters taking to the streets in the two largest cities of Manzini and Mbabane, reports Al Jazeera.
Also read: MoFA introduces Public Diplomacy wing
The Bangladesh Mission in South Africa is also in touch with the South African Foreign Ministry in this regard, said a diplomatic source.
Eswatini, officially the Kingdom of Eswatini, is still commonly known in English as Swaziland and it is a landlocked country in Southern Africa.
It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west and south.
Serum may resume vaccine export in July/August
India, depending on the scale of production of vaccines within the country, is aiming at July-end or August to at least release those vaccines that have been bought by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal and are now in pending status, reported The Print on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami had an "informal meeting" with State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam on Wednesday at his office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, neither side revealed what they discussed.
Also read: Let's see what can be done, have patience: PM about vaccine management
Bangladesh entered into a deal with the Serum Institute of India (SII) to purchase 30 million doses of a potential vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca for Covid-19.
Bangladesh was supposed to get five million doses of vaccine per month as the SII and Bangladesh’s Beximco Pharma signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for priority delivery of the vaccine doses.
Also read: Bangladesh rolls out Pfizer vaccine at 3 Dhaka centers
Bangladesh sought at least 3 million doses of vaccine under the agreement to address the immediate demand in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh has so far received only 7 million of Oxford-AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine doses produced by Serum Institute of India (SII) through its contract. Bangladesh also received 3.3 million doses of vaccine as a bilateral partnership gift.
Dhaka calls for 'effective actions' to repatriate Rohingyas
Bangladesh has reiterated its emphatic call to the international community to take more effective actions in ensuring safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas now taking shelter in Bangladesh to their own lands in Myanmar.
Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury, Secretary (West) of Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the call at a panel discussion titled "Humanitarian Approach Towards Refugees and Migrants."
Read:Cash, gold dug out from Ukhiya camp, Rohingya couple held
The discussion was held as part of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum that ended in Antalya, Turkey on Sunday.
Elaborating the measures undertaken by the government in addressing the humanitarian needs of Rohingyas as far as possible, Chowdhury underlined the need for immediate resolution of this crisis in view of the challenges it is presenting, not only to Bangladesh, but also to the entire region.
Moderated by Andrea Sanke, an acclaimed media personality in Turkey, the panel was also addressed by Antonio Vitiligo, Director General of International Organization of Migration, Dr. Kerem Kinik, President of Turkish Red Crescent, Michael Spindelegger, Director General of International Centre for Migration Policy and Development and Dr. Savas Unlu, Director General of Migration Management of Ministry of Interior, Turkey.
On the sidelines of panel discussions, Chowdhury held a bilateral meeting with Joshua Phopho Setipa, Managing Director, United Nations Technology Bank where both sides discussed how this particular Bank could be engaged in the process of Bangladesh's transition to a developing economy from LDC status.
They also discussed the possibility of setting up a regional Centre of LDC Technology Bank in Dhaka.
Read: UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Tahsan visits Cox's Bazar Rohingya camps
A meeting was also held between Secretary Chowdhury and Karat Sarybay, Executive Director, CICA where both the dignitaries shared their perspectives on a range of contemporary issues including geopolitical uncertainty, economic volatility, security turmoil and pandemic dangers across Asia in particular and globe in general.
They underlined the need for stepping up collaboration between and among the Asian nations more than ever.
Stating the Foreign policy dictum of Father of the Nation of Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman "Friendship to all, malice towards none" Secretary Chowdhury expressed the commitment of Bangladesh towards building peaceful sustainable societies across the world and more particularly across Asia.
He also appraised him of the encouraging economic growth of Bangladesh amidst the pandemic and phenomenal socio-economic developments that the country has scripted in the recent time.
Sarybay deeply appreciated the Bangladesh leadership for continued economic success of Bangladesh and efficient handling of pandemic.
Chowdhury also had a bilateral meeting with the 1st Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey Sedat Onal in the afternoon.
Read:Speakers: Both formal and informal diplomacy needed to solve Rohingya problem
During the meeting, among other issues, they discussed the possible State visit of Turkish President to Bangladesh, continued collaboration on the Rohingya issue bilaterally and multilaterally, enhancement of trade including the possibility of duty reduction on some specific items, welcoming of Turkish investments in SEZ and High Tech Parks in Bangladesh.
They also agreed to hold the next sessions of JEC (Joint Economic Commission) and FOC (Foreign Office Consultation) in Dhaka at the earliest.
Bangladesh elected FAO Council member
Bangladesh has been elected member of FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Council from the Asia Region for the term 2022-2024.
The result came from the 42nd Session of the UN Agency participated by 183 member states, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
Read:FAO lauds Hasina's leadership in attaining food security in Bangladesh
This comes at a time when Bangladesh is going to host the 36th Asia and the Pacific FAO Regional Conference (APRC) from March 8-11, 2022 in Dhaka which is expected to be attended by ministerial-level delegates from 46 member countries of the region.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has agreed to inaugurate the conference to be hosted by Bangladesh for the first time.
Read: Bangladesh to host FAO Asia Pacific Regional Conference in 2022
Bangladesh, with other Council members, will now lead the organization at both policy and executive levels in deciding and advising on matters pertaining to the implementation of programmes and budget execution, monitoring of activities under the new results-based framework, monitoring of implementation of governance decisions and oversight of the administration of the organization for three years.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Rome actively worked to obtain support in favour of Bangladesh.
Read:Undernourished people likely to be increased up to 132 mn this year: FAO
The ongoing 42nd Session of the FAO Conference, held on a virtual platform from the Headquarters of FAO in Rome, is being attended by an eight-member Bangladesh delegation led by Agricultural Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, which also includes Agricultural Senior Secretary Md Mesbahul Islam and Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to FAO Md Shameem Ahsan.
FAO is the specialised agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
Major General Shamim new Ambassador to Libya
The government has appointed Major General S M Shamim-Uz-Zaman as the new Ambassador of Bangladesh to Libya.
Major General S M Shamim-Uz-Zaman was commissioned in Bangladesh Army on 21 December 1984.
Also read: Fazlul Bari new Bangladesh ambassador to Iraq
Since commissioning, he has been serving in various staff, instructional and command appointments at different levels.
Major General Shamim has served as Military Secretary to the President of Bangladesh, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also read: Sarwar Mahmood new Bangladesh ambassador to Spain
He has attained Masters in Defence Studies from National University and Masters in Military Science from Madras University, India.
Bangladesh seeks TRIPS waiver to ramp up Covid vaccine production
Bangladesh has called for a temporary waiver from certain obligations under the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for the production of vaccines, medicines and other health technologies to effectively respond to the pandemic.
Bangladesh made the demand in the just concluded 74th virtual session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) held in Geneva.
Read: US unveils strategy for global vaccine sharing with Bangladesh, India on list
Intellectual property is currently a barrier to swiftly scaling up and diversifying the production of Covid-19 health products, including vaccines.
Bangladesh said the pharmaceutical industries across the developing countries, including Bangladesh, capable of producing vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other medical equipment should get licenses as well as technology and technical know-how to produce the vaccines and health technologies for Covid-19 and those items should be provided to other developing countries free of cost.
Besides, Bangladesh highlighted the timely and swift actions taken by the government of Sheikh Hasina, including health measures and stimulus packages, to combat the socio-economic impacts posed by the pandemic.
A Bangladesh delegation, led by Zahid Maleque, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and in direct collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva, attended the virtual WHA, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
Read:COVAX Facility: Japan to provide 30mn vaccine doses to other countries
This year, the Assembly mainly focused on the production, supply and equitable distribution of vaccines to address the Covid-19 crisis.
Section of global media, CSOs campaigning against Bhasan Char with distorted info: MoFA
The government of Bangladesh has said a section of international media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have been continuously campaigning against Bhasan Char and Rohingya relocation with distorted information.
Noting this with "great disappointment" the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday said such campaign will undermine the magnanimous humanitarian gestures and the sincere efforts of Bangladesh.
"Excessive focus on temporary arrangement and undue criticism will only shift the focus from the permanent solution, which lies in repatriation to and reintegration of Rohingyas in Myanmar," said the MoFA in a media release.
Also read: Fully cooperating with ICJ to “ensure justice” for Rohingyas: NUG
During UNHCR senior officials tour to Bhasan Char, a large number of Rohingya gathered and launched a demonstration.
At one point, the crowd got agitated and in the process, some of the Rohingyas reportedly got minor injury, said the Ministry adding that once the delegation left the island, the situation normalized.
The two-member team from the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva, comprising the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection and the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, is currently visiting Bangladesh.
As a part of their protection-mandate, the team, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited Bhasan Char on Monday.
The crowd had "free and frank interactions" with the AHCs and vented out their frustration and concerns over uncertainty vis-a-vis repatriation.
In absence of any progress in repatriation, they expressed desperation to get out of the present situation and requested to consider relocation to a third country, said the Ministry.
The Rohingyas demanded UN’s presence in Bhasan Char to ensure facilities such as education, livelihood activities, skill development etc, MoFA said.
Also read: UNHCR seeks adequate medical assistance for Rohingyas affected in Bhasan Char
They also confirmed to the AHCs that their relocation to Bhasan char was completely on a voluntary basis.
In recent times there have been a number of important visits to Bhashan Char including the visits of the OIC Assistant Secretary General, the 18-member UN team and most recently a group of Ambassadors.
During all these visits, the Rohingyas spontaneously and happily interacted with the visiting guests both in informal and formal settings.
The MoFA said Rohingyas are Myanmar nationals and any arrangement for them in Bangladesh; be it in Cox’s Bazar or in Bhasan Char; is purely on a temporary basis until they return to their country.
The Rohingyas also want to return to their homeland and all including the UNHCR need to work constructively to that end, said the Ministry.
The UN is expected to assume their responsibility and operate within their mandate taking into account the ground reality and concerns of the host community, Bangladesh says.
The Government of Bangladesh, on its part, is ready to address any realistic needs and concerns of the Rohingyas, said the Foreign Ministry.